Shemaiah's prophecy

2 Chronicles Chapter 11

When Rehoboam fled back to Jerusalem, he mobilized armies from Judah and Benjamin to fight against the army of Israel to restore the kingdom to himself. But the Lord told Shemaiah to tell Rehoboam and all the Israelites in Judah and Benjamin that the Lord did not want them to fight against relatives. And to tell them to go back home. And they obeyed the message of the Lord.

Rehoboam fortified various cities and built them up for defense and put commanders in each. He stored supplies of food, olive oil and wine in them and also put shields and spears in these towns. So only Judah and Benjamin remained under his control.

But the priests and Levites living in the northern tribes of Israel sided with Rehoboam and many abandoned their homes and property to move to Judah and Jerusalem becaue Rehoboam would not let them serve the Lord as priests. He appointed his own priests to serve at pagan shrines where they worshiped goat and calf idols. So from all over Israel, those who wanted to worship the Lord, followed the Levites to Jerusalem where they could offer sacrifices to the Lord. This strengthened the kingdom of Judah and for three years they supported Rehoboam and sought to obey the Lord.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: Before the nation split, Jerusalem was the center of worship and people came there to celebrate festivals. The rest of the year, other rituals were conducted in the territories by Levites. However, after the split, the king saw the Levites as a threat to his government and he banned the Levites from their duties and forced their move. In the meanwhile, the king's appointed priests encouraged idol worship.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Just as the king tried to reunite his kingdom by force and failed, so it is in your own heart if you try to force it. A willing heart must be free and can only then accept loyalty from anyone. The respect of others must be won through love and not through force.

Don't you wonder why God would support such a rebellion? It may have been his way of punishing the nation for turning away from him. Or it may have been God's way of preserving David's line in order to keep his plan for the coming Messiah to be born. God alone knows the reason. Just as God alone knows the future. Sometimes he may allow a division in order to fulfll his greater purpose.
Praise his holy name!

Yours in Christ,
Mary


Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH:
Update on my niece Suzanne, she is healing but her leg was crushed and will take many months of doctoring. She is in a nursing home for rehab care. Pray for her healing. Also Gabe, Wanda, Janice Long’s parents. especially her mother whose cancer has returned, and Arlene’s nephew David. Pray for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life. Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer. Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS. Pray for Cyndi Sullivan who was given 14 months to live with cancer, but has made it six years. The pain has returned and she needs our prayers.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has 90 percent of her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. She will require long therapy and insurance may soon be a problem since her job was not held for her.
Pray for Robert Sargent with lung cancer and Marthaline Sargent with serious health issues..
Pray for Carolyn’s friend Margaret and her husband who were in a car accident. As elderly drivers they may face a life change which may cost them their independence. Let’s all raise our voices to God to hear our prayers.
Pray for the speedy recovery of Sandy in Minnesota who underwent successful brain surgery for a tumor recently.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.